In the beginning of their term the Red-Green German Government has resolved to adapt overall policy up to the model (Leitbild) of an "activating welfare state". By means of the recent labour market and social policy reforms according to "Hartz-Commission" and "Agenda 2010" we can see the effects...

This paper provides an overview of the sequential shift towards activating labour market and social policy in Germany. It not only shows the changes in the instruments of active and passives labour market policies but also analyzes the implications of this change for the political economy, the...